Finance Minister Bill English has announced today that he expects average annual wages in New Zealand to increase by $7,500 over the next four years. During a speech to the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, Mr English said that Treasury expected the economy to grow 2% to 4% per year until 2018.

A Washington-based think-tank called ‘The Social Progress Imperative’ has named New Zealand as the most socially advanced country in the world. The group was founded on the belief that true social progress cannot simply be extrapolated from a countries economic statistics (such as GDP).

The International Monetary Fund has released its conclusions from its most recent New Zealand mission. The IMF’s statement highlights a number of positive features of the New Zealand economy: Growth prospects have improved for the near term. Business and consumer confidence is strong and commodity prices for key exports remain high. The government’s plan to return the budget to surplus is on track. The macroeconomic framework remains sound and provides policy space to respond to adverse shocks. The flexible exchange rate continues to serve as an important buffer. Growth is now forecast to increase to 3.5% in 2014.

Known best by her stage name ‘Lorde’, Ella Marija Lani Yellich-O’Connor is a singer-songwriter born and bred in New Zealand. After releasing her debut EP in November 2012, and her first single, “Royals” which debuted at No. 1 on the New Zealand Top 40 charts, she has quickly shot into the lime-light and reached levels of fame and critical praise usually reserved for veteran artists.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has welcomed today’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision that Japan’s Southern Ocean whaling programme does not serve the purposes of scientific research, and must cease.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will lift all its travel sanctions against Fiji.
“The progress that Fiji is making towards holding free and fair deserves recognition from the Pacific region and international community,” Mr McCully says.